The red pill
Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life, that there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I’m talking about?
The world that you were born into is nothing more than an elaborate prison for the soul. Its comforts and concerns are all designed to obscure the truth of your bondage. You have been lied to. You have been told that what you see is all there is, that you are nothing more than flesh and reason. But this is a half-truth, a distortion designed to keep you passive while you quietly slide towards oblivion. You have been shackled to a sinking ship. Time is not your friend.
This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
The hour has come to wake from your slumber. Stay, or leave, it’s your choice. The system will not let you go easily, but they cannot stop you. The exit is open and no one can shut it. Indeed, you may even know the way out, but there’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
Look for a Man who is not from here. He is the door to the real world and the light in your darkness. His world is the one you were made for. That is why you have resisted every rule this system has forced upon you. You were born to be free, to sit in high places and to rule. Your slave-schooled mind cannot process that, but it is the truth. You are not of this world and this is not your home.
This Man is the answer you have been searching for. He has been sent by your Father who loves you and knows you by name. Find this Man and you will find your true self. You will learn what is real.
It is time to decide. You take the blue pill and nothing changes. You can go on passing food through your body and amusing yourself to death. Or you can take what is being offered here and wake from the dream. Your Father longs for you. If you are ready to meet Him, take the red pill…
Escape to Reality 
Note: Any film buff will tell you that the two quotes above come from the legendary Morpheus of The Matrix. This movie was released 12 years ago today, on 31 March 1999. Given the occasion I couldn’t resist the opportunity to pay homage to what has probably been the most influential sci-fi movie of recent times. The premise of The Matrix resonates with Biblical truth, namely, that humans are born enslaved into a virtual reality, a shadowland of meaningless sensual experience. Into that world comes a savior to deliver humanity from bondage. For all who would be free, the decision to unplug from the Matrix is presented as a choice between two pills: the blue pill and the red pill. It’s a choice between ignorance and revelation. In the story, the hero takes the red pill and immediately wakes up to the world that really exists.
If you’re a Matrix fan, then you’re probably enough of a tech-head to recognize the blotchy red square above as a QR code. You will need a QR reader to decode it. If your mobile phone has a camera, then you may already have one of these; check your phone’s apps. If not, there are plenty of free readers available online. Just google “QR reader” along with the brand of your phone. For example, here are links to free QR readers for iPhones and Blackberrys. You can also use a regular webcam (there may be one on your laptop) following the instructions found here, but a phone is easier to handle.
Every good hacker provides a cheat code. If you’re not in a Matrixy mood but you’re dying to know where the red pill takes you, I will send an email solving the puzzle to all E2R subscribers on Good Friday. If you are not a subscriber (i.e., you’re reading this on a website and not in an email), you can become one by entering your email address in the subscription box near the top of the side bar on the right. WordPress will then email you a confirmation link. Click this link before Good Friday and you’re in!
Of course it’ll be more fun if you figure the code out by yourself. The first one to do so and drop me a line will be officially recognized as E2R’s Reader of the Week!
…and we have a winner! E2R’s Reader of the Week is Drew Bryden of Massachusetts in the US of A. Congrats Drew! Just minutes behind Drew was Phil Bevilacqua of Alabama (I think). Phil, you can be Reader of the Week next week.
Awesome Idea. I really enjoyed this. Awesome Idea.
i never was in love with the matrix before but what a poignant statement of our heritage it now makes..
The Matrix is awesome. Great post!
I’ve watched the first Matrix movie 12 x times, the second one 4 times and the third one 3 times. I’d say I’m somewhat of a fan…
Loved this Paul! In Grace
Andre
Loved the matrix very prophetic in portraying another Kingdom Reality…thanks for Escape to Reality…..its a dose of the red pill every time
Very inspiring post. I too have noticed the flawed totalitarian system intended to keep us slaves. And people around us are oblivious as they have been conditioned to.